Mesha

Mesha

King Mesha of Moab was a king of Moabites around the 9th century BC, known most famous for writing the Mesha stela.

The books of Samuel record that Moab was conquered by David (floruit c.1000-970 BCE) and retained in the territories of his son Solomon (d. 931 BCE). Later, King Omri of Israel reconquered Moab after Moab was lost subsequent to King Solomon's reign. The Mesha Stele, erected by Mesha, indicates that it was Omri, king of the northern kingdom of Israel, who conquered his land. The Mesha Stele records Mesha's liberation of Moab c.850 BCE.

2 Kings 3:4 reports the same events from the point of view of the Israelites, stating that "King Mesha of Moab ... used to deliver to the king of Israel one hundred thousand lambs, and the wool of one hundred thousand rams", before rebelling against Jehoram (the Mesha Stele does not name the king against whom Mesha rebelled). 2 Kings and the Mesha Stele differ in their explanation for the success of the revolt: according to Mesha, "Israel has been defeated", but 2 Kings says the Israelites withdrew voluntarily when Mesha sacrificed his own son to his god Chemosh. Aside from these attestations, references to Mesha are scanty, if extant.

The name "Mesha" seems to have been etymologically equivalent to the Hebrew "Moshe" (Moses)[1].

Further reading

  • "The Cambridge Ancient History", Vol. III Pt. i, 2nd Ed.; Boardman, Edwards, Hammond & Sollberger eds.; Cambridge University Press, 1982
  • "Reading the Old Testament"; Lawrence Boadt; Paulist Press, 1984
  • "The History and Religion of Israel"; G.W. Anderson; Oxford University Press, 1966

References

  1. ^ Lemaire, André (2007), "The Mesha Stele and the Omri Dynasty" in Crabbe, Lester L. "Ahab Agonistes: The Rise and Fall of the Omride Dynasty" (T&T Clark)

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  • MESHA — (Heb. מֵישַׁע), king of Moab in the ninth century B.C.E. (see moab ). The name is formed from the root yšʿ, to deliver, save. In II Kings 3:4 it is stated that Mesha was a sheep breeder. He was subjugated by ahab and paid him tribute. After Ahab… …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

  • Mesha — Mesha, Nebenfluß der Düna im Europäischen Rußland; entspringt im Gouvernement Smolensk u. mündet im Gouvernement Witebsk …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Mesha — (spr. mescha), linker Nebenfluß der Düna in den russ. Gouvernements Smolensk und Witebsk, 212 km lang, ist von der Mündung der Obscha an auf 127 km schiffbar …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • Mesha — Mesha, l. Nebenfluß der Düna in den russ. Gouv. Smolensk und Witebsk, 214 km …   Kleines Konversations-Lexikon

  • Mesha — La estela de Mesha. El rey Mesha fue un rey de Moab del siglo IX a. C., una banda de tierra llena de colinas de la actual Jordania, al norte de Edom, al otro lado del Mar Muerto desde Judá hasta el valle del río Arnón. Los libros… …   Wikipedia Español

  • Mesha —    Middle district, Vulgate, Messa.    1) A plain in that part of the boundaries of Arabia inhabited by the descendants of Joktan (Gen. 10:30).    2) Heb. meysh a, deliverance, the eldest son of Caleb (1 Chr. 2:42), and brother of Jerahmeel.… …   Easton's Bible Dictionary

  • Mesha — King of Moab, renowned as a sheep breeder (2 Kgs. 3:4), who threw off a long subjection to Israel, about 853 BCE, a success which he attributed to his sacrificing his son as a burnt offering (2 Kgs. 3:27). The Moabite Stone, discovered in 1868… …   Dictionary of the Bible

  • Mesha — Sp Miošà Ap Мёша/Mesha L u. RF (Totorijoje) …   Pasaulio vietovardžiai. Internetinė duomenų bazė

  • Mesha Stele — in the Louvre Museum. The Mesha Stele (popularized in the 19th century as the Moabite Stone ) is a black basalt stone bearing an inscription by the 9th century BC ruler Mesha of Moab in Jordan. The inscription was set up about 840 BC as a… …   Wikipedia

  • MESHA STELE — MESHA STELE, an inscribed basalt stele, measuring about 40 inches (one meter) high and about 28 inches (70 centimeters) wide, erected by mesha , king of Moab, at Dibon (today, Dhībân), probably in the third quarter of the ninth century, B.C.E.… …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

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